Wall and wall panel



Nov. 21, 195% c. R. B. HARDING WALL. AND WALL PANEL 2 Sheets-Sheet 1Filed March 26, 1945 Summer 6. R. B. HA/POl/VG Nov. 21, 1950 c. R. B.HARDING WALL AND WALL PANEL 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed March 26, 1945Z'mnentor CR8. HARD/N6 Patented Nov. 21, 1950 'WALL AND WALL PANEL CyrilR. B. Harding, Grosse Isle, Mich, assignor to National SteelCorporation, a corporation of Delaware Application March 26, 1945,Serial No. 584,749

13 Claims.

between the adjacent edges.

Porcelain enamel panels, in addition to their use in the walls ofbathrooms, kitchens, and other interior locations, are bein used moreand more on exterior walls where they are exposed to the weather,including driving rains. The joints between the panels are filled withmortar or a mastic compound as a caulking to provide a watertightconstruction. It is difficult, if not impossible, to insure that thejoints will be permanently watertight and will not permit water to leakthrough into the interior portion of the wall where it will causeconsiderable damage. The watertightness of these joints is dependent onthe quality and characteristics of the caulking compound and even thoughit be of good quality, poor workmanship in its application often resultsin leaky joints despite the fact that the joints are successfully sealedin the original installation. The life of the caulkin compounds, so fardeveloped, is much shorter than the life of the porcelain enamel panelsso that the building develops leaks in a relatively short time andrequires frequent and continuing maintenance. Caulking such a largenumber of joints even in a small building is a relatively costly andslow process. Another important difliculty involved in the use ofcaulking compounds is that any movement of the porcelain enamel panelsdue to temperature changes, settlement of the building or other causes,tends to destroy the Watertightness of the mortar-filled joints andcauses spalling of the enamel because the panels are rigidly fastened tothe building structure. Attempts have been made to provide weatherproofwalls without the use of a caulkin compound in the joints, but theseattempts have not, in general, met with success. One reason for thislackof success is that there is nothing preventing the rain from drivingthrough the seam and into the interior of the wall.

It is an object of this invention to provide an improved interlockingpanel which is economical to manufacture and which may be readilyassembled with other, like panels to form a weathertight wall withoutthe use of a caulkin compound in the joints between the panels.

A further object of this invention is to provide a novel wall includingporcelain enamel panels that will have a life determined by therelatively 2 long life of the porcelain enamel coating and not by therelatively short life of the caulkin compound that has heretofore beenused.

It is also an object of this invention to provide a new and usefulwatertight wall with drainage channels in back of the seams between theadjacent panel edges which will prevent the en trance of any water intothe interior portion of the wall where it may cause damage. a I

Another object of the present invention is to provide means forfastening the panels together which will normally hold the panelsagainst movement but which will tend to center the panels if erectedslightly off center and which will permit slight floating movement ofthe panels when settling of the building, temperature changes or othercauses tend to shift the panels so as to prevent or reduce spalling ofthe enamel.

The present invention provides a new and novel interlocking panel andthese panels may be readily assembled into a novel Waterproof wallwithout a caulking compound in the seams between the adjacent edges ofthe panels. The wall comprises a plurality of panels assembled withtheir closely adjacent edges forming non-watertight, aligned seamstherebetween. Relatively large expansion and drainage channels areprovided in back of the horizontally and vertically aligned seams. Thesechannels reduce the velocity of any water driven through the seams intothe channels and since the velocity of the entering water is immediatelyreduced, the water will not be driven beyond the limits of the channelsand the channels will drain away the water driven through the seams andinto the channels. The panels are fastened to the supporting means byresilient elements which hold the panels against normal movement butpermit some floating movement of the panels when there is a tendency forthe panels to shift which may be caused by temperature changes, settlingof the building or other causes. My novel panel is economical to produceand may be readily erected at low cost to form an improved wall.

While this invention is primarily concerned with porcelain enamel panelsnormally comprising a piece of sheet metal decorated with a porcelainenamel coating, it is not limited to such materials. The panels may beformed of any other suitable material such as opaque, translucent ortransparent plastics or glass, molded wood products, and the like,having the necessary weathering properties and decorative surfaces.While I am primarily concerned with vertical walls, my invention is notlimited to such walls and, may be used for ceilings, roofs and otherhorizontal or inclined walls.

These and other objects and advantages will become more apparent fromthe following detailed description and the accompanying drawings, inwhich:

Figure l is a front elevational view of a plurality of panels assembledinto awall and embodying the present invention;

Figure 2 is an isometric view of one of the panels of Figure l withportions broken away to show the internal structure and embodying thepresentinvention;

Figure 3 is an enlarged isometric view of the upper right hand corner ofthe panelof Figure 2 and the supporting channel showing the means forfastening and supporting the. panel.

Figure 4 is a front elevational view of a portion of the supportingchannel of Figures 1 and 3;

Figure 5 is a fragmentary sectional view taken along line 5-5 of Figure1;

Figure 6 is a fragmentary'sectional viewtaken along line 66 of Figure1'; and,

Figure 7 is an isometric view of the clip also shown in Figure 3 forfastening the panel in place.

Referring to the drawings, the wall shown in Figure 1 comprises aplurality of panels I fastened to and supported by the vertical channelsor studs II as will be more fully herinafter described in detail. Thechannels I I may be formed of relatively light weight sheet steel orother material where they support only the weight of the panels It ormay be formed of relatively heavy material when supporting part or allof the weight of the building. The adjacent edges of the panels areshown as being spaced apart a very slight distance suiflcient to preventdamage to the porcelain or other decorative coating along the edges whenthe panels are being assembled, but the edges may be in contact witheach other. In either arrangement, the panels are assembled with theiradjacent edges forming aligned, vertical, non-watertight seams I2 andaligned, horizontal, non-watertight seams I3 therebetween.

The hollow, pan-shaped panel Ii] is formed by forming a thin sheet ofsteel to which the porcelain coating is then applied. Each panel Incomprises a front wall I4 which may be flat, as shown, or which may beembossed, stamped or otherwise deformed, coated or treated to presentthe desired decorative efiect. The edges of panel wall M are preferablyslightly rounded as it is possible to more evenly enamel a round corneras compared to a sharp corner. An inwardly turned flange I extends alongeach of the two opposite, end edges of wall I4 and an inwardly depressedchannel portion I6 extends across the upper edge of the front wall I l.The upper end portion of each flange is deformed to form a continuationof channel portion IS. The channel shaped portion I6 includes aninwardly bent, horizontal bottom shoulder IT, a web I8 parallel to wallI4, and asubstantially perpendicular outer flange l9 extending along theedge of web I8. The shoulder [1, web IB andflange I9 define a U-shapedchannel with its open side toward the front of the panel. Near each endof the channel portion I6, there is formed a recess 21 and the flange I9is lanced adjacent each end at 20 and opposite the recess 2i for thereasons more fully hereinafter described. An inwardly directed flange 22extends across the bottom edge of the wall I4 and terminates in adownwardly bent lip 23.

A hook-shaped clip'25 is fastened to the-web I8 by rivets 24 and extendsalong the channel substantially as shown in Figures 3 and 5. The clipincludes tabs 26 which are bent back to receive and hold the lip 23 ofan adjacent, upper panel Ill. Other means may be used for fastening theclip 25 in place.

Channels II are supported in horizontally spaced apart positions-asindicated in Figure 1, and each drain channel includes a back web 21having an outwardly bent flange 28 extending along each vertical side sothat the web 2'! and channels 28 define a U-shaped channel passage withits open side toward the panels. Each flange 28 is provided with a notch29 for each supported panel I9; At the bottom of notch 29 there is aninwardly extending, horizontal tab 30 and at the back of notch 29 thereis a vertical, inwardly bent flange portion 3 I. A second relativelysmall inwardly bent tab 32 is provided at the upper side of notch 29.

When erecting a wall, the channels II are first properly positioned. Thebottom panels are first fastened in place and then the next higherpanels and so on, similar to the sequence used in fastening shingles inplace. A lower panel is first placed in position with the end flangesI5, each in-a corresponding channel II, and then pressed into place sothat the depressed channel shaped portion It fits into the correspondingpair of notches 29. The recessed portion 21 contacts the inwardly bentflangev portion 3|, as shown more clearly in Figures-6 and '7, and theshoulder I! of channel portion I6 rests on the tab 3%} at the bottom ofnotch 29. Thus, the weight of each panel i8 is supported by twoflanges-28. The panel'is removably fastened to the channel II by aspring clip including two leg portions 35, each terminating in a hookportion 36. The spring clip 33 is placed in position so that itsstraight portion 3& extends across the top of flange I9 and the upperedge of flange ill with one leg 35 in back of flange portion 3| so thatits hook portion 36 engages the upper end of flange I5 at and with theother leg 35 fitting the lancedportion 2!! of flange I9 so that its hookportion 36 engages the end of flange I9. The inwardly bent tab 32 holdsthe clip 33 in position. The clip-33 urges the web I5 away from flangeSI and is normally compressed so that, as shown in Figure 3, the cliptends to urge the panel toward the right. The two opposed clips 33 thustend to center the panel I0 with respect to the channels II. Each spring33 resiliently urges each panel I8 toward the center of the adjacent,corresponding channel II, urges each panel I8 inwardly against flangeportion 3I, and urges each panel downwardly toward the clip 25 in thechannel portion I6 of the adjacent lower panel. The springs 33 canbereadily removed to permit'dismantling of the panels.

As shown more clearly in Figure 6, the flange 31 normally. does notquite touch the flange I5 of the next adjacent upper panel. The flangeportion .3I does not contact the. back of the upper portion of flange I5and the flanges I5 of two horizontally adjacent panels do not touch.Thus, each panel can shift horizontally a slight amount, that is, thepanel has some. horizontal float. If there is atemperature change orsettling of the building or any other causes tending to slightly shiftor move the panels, this floating movement is sufficient to permit thepanels to move and prevent or greatly-reduce spalling 0f the porcelaincoating. The clips 33 are normally strong enough to prevent movementv of.the panels by windor by rial and form a seal.

hand. At times, when erecting a wall, the panels may not be positionedin perfect vertical alignment and the clips 33 will tend, over a periodof time, to center the panels with respect to the previously described.

Insulating material may, if desirable, be added to the back of eachpanel front wall it. Enough clearance must be left so that the panelscan be assembled. The flange i9 is slightly nared outwardly and if thereis insulating material on the back of the adjacent upper panel, theresilient flange [9 will press against the insulating mate- The springs33 holding each panel in place urge the panel downwardly against clip 25and if insulating material is present, they urge the insulation againstresilient flange 19.

Referring more particularly to Figure 5, the U-shaped channel portion itdefines a velocity- -reduoing passage or channel 38 which is in backvofand above the seam i3. When, for example,

a driving rain strikes the panels, water is driven through horizontalseam l3 into the channel 35. The cross sectional area of channel 38 ismuch greater than that of scam 83 so that the water entering the channelfrom the seam has its velocity reduced and it immediately drops to thebottom of channel 38 and drains into the vertical drain channel H.Because of the reduction in velocity and the relatively large size ofthe channel 38 as compared to seam it, the water does not tend to pushbetween the edge of flange I9 and wall It at 39 and enter the buildingstructure where it will cause considerable damage.

As shown more clearly in Figure 6, the seam l2 opens into thevelocity-reducing channel or passage defined by studs l i so that anywater driven through seam l2 enters this vertical drain channel whereits velocity is greatly reduced so that it immediately drains to thebottom of the channel. As the horizontal drain channels 33 communicatewith the vertical drain channels defined by the studs H. all of thewater entering the seams l2 and it eventually flows out of the bottom ofchannels ii to the ground or other locations where it will do no harm.If the channels H and panels Iii are assembled to form, for example, aroof, the lower ends of the channels may be directly above the eavestrough so that water draining from the channels ll will flow into thesetroughs and be drained away in the usual manner.

The panels Hi can be very rapidly and easily assembled once the channelsll are in place for it is only necessary to place each panel in positionand snap two wire clips 33 into position. The assembled panels andchannels provide a weatherproof Wall Without the use of a caulkingcompound and the wall is so constructed that the life of the wall is notlimited to the life of the caulking compound and the panels are sosupported that there is little or no tendency for the porcelain enamelcoating to spall off under ,a change of temperature or settling of thebuilding.

Having shown and described a preferred embodiment of my invention, it isto be understood that my invention is not limited to the structure shownand described and that some features may be used without others, allwithout departing from the spirit or scope of my invention, except asspecifically set forth in the accompanying claims.

I claim:

1. A wall comprising a plurality of panels assembled with their adjacenthorizontal and vertical edges forming horizontally and verticallyaligned non-watertight seams therebetween; a plurality of verticalmembers supporting said panels and each member defining a vertical drainchannel in back of the corresponding vertically aligned seams; adepressed channel shaped portion extending along the upper edge of eachpanel and integral therewith and defining a horizintal channel in backof and above the corresponding horizontal seam; means in said channelshaped portion securing thereto the lower edge portion of an adjacentupper panel; and means fastening the panels to the correspondingvertical members.

2. A wall comprising a plurality of panels assembled with their adjacenthorizontal and vertical edges forming horizontally and verticallyaligned non-watertight seams therebetween; a plurality of spacedvertical members supporting said panels and each member defining avertical drain channel in back of the corresponding vertical seams; anotch in each of said vertical members for each supported panel; achannel shaped portion integral with and extending along the upper edgeof each panel and defining a horizontal channel in back of and above thecorrespond ng horizontal seam, said channel shaped portion including aninwardly bent shoulder, a web and a flange extending along the outeredge of said web, each of said channel shaped portions fitting into twoof the notches in two vertical members; securing means in each of saidchannel shaped portions securing therein the lower edge portion of theadjacent upper panel; and means fastening the panels to thecorresponding vertical members.

3. A wall comprising a plurality of panel walls assembled with theiradjacent horizontal and vertical edges forming horizontally andvertically aligned non-watertight seams therebetween; a

plurality of horizontally spaced apart vertical members supporting saidpanel walls and each member including a web, an outwardly extendingflange along each vertical edge of said web and a notch in each flangefor each supported panel wall, said web and said flanges defining avertical drain channel in back of the corresponding vertically alignedseams; a depressed channel shaped portion inte ral with and extendingalong the upper edge of each panel wall and including an inwardly bentbottom shoulder and a web parallel to the front wall, said channelshaped portion fitting into the two corresponding notches in the flangesof two adjacent verticalmenibers; means securing the lower edge of anadjacent upper panel in said channel shaped portion; resilient meansremovably fastening the panels to the vertical members.

A Wall comprising a plurality of panel face walls assembled with theiradjacent horizontal and vertical edges forming horizontally andvertically aligned non-watertight seams therebetween; a plurality ofhorizontally spaced apart vertical members supporting said panel facewalls, each member defining a vertical drain channel in back ofcorrespondin -vertically aligned-seam, and each member including a web,an outwardlyextending :flange along each edge efsaid web, anotch in eachflange for each supported panel, a'horizontally inwardly bent tab at thebottom of each notch, an inwardlyqbent and vertical flange portion atthe back of each notch; an inwardly bent flange extendinga-long twoopposite ends of each panel face-wall and extending :into thecorresponding channel :Vdefined by a vertical member; a depressedchannel shaped portion extending along the upper edge of each ofsaidpanel walls andfltting into the two corresponding notches, each channel,shaped'portion including an :inwardly bent :bottom -'shoulder engagingtwo of the corresponding, inwardly :bent tabs at the bottom of thesetwo-notches, a web parallel to the panel face wall and contact 'ing :twoof the inwardly bent vertical flangeportions, and an upper flangeextending .alongthe upper edge of said web; and means extending alongsaid channel shaped portion securing therein the lower edge of anadjacent upper panel; and resilient means holding the channel shapedportion in th corresponding notches.

5. A unitary panel comprising a. front wall; an inwardly bent flangeextending along each of the two opposite end edges of said well; aninwardlydepressed channel shapedportion extending-along the upper edgeof said well and including an inwardly bent horizontal shoulder adjacentsaid wall, a web parallel to said well and extending along the inneredge of said-shoulder, and a horizontal flange extending along the upperedge of said web; an inwardly bent lower edge portion extending alongthe lower edge or said wall and terminating in a downwardly bent lip;and a clip fastened to said web for receiving and holding the downwardlybent lip of the lower edge portion of an adjacent upper panel.

6. A unitary panel comprising a front wall; an inwardlybent flangeextending along eachoi the two opposite end edges of said wall; aninwardly depressed channel shaped portion extending along the upper edgeof said walland including an upwardly bent horizontal shoulder adjacentsaid wall and a web parallel to said wall and extending along the inneredge of said shoulder, and a horizontal flange extending along the upperedge of said web; an inwardly bent lower edge portion extending alongthe lower edge of said wall; and a clip fastened to said web forengaging and holding the lower edge portion of .an; adjacentupper-panel.

'7. A panel-supporting member defining a U- shaped channel andcomprising a web; an out wardly extending flange along each side edge ofsaid web; a notch in each flange for each supported panel; a horizontal,inwardly bent tab at the bottom of each notch; an inwardly bent,vertical flange portion at the back of each notch; and a second inwardlybent upper tab, both of said tabs and said flange portions beinginwardly bent segments of the corresponding flange extending along saidweb.

8. A wall comprising a plurality of rectangular panels each having afront face wall with an inwardly bent edge flange portion. extendingalong each vertical edge, an inwardly bent shoulder portion extendingalong the upper horizontal edge of the face wall, and an inwardly bentedge portion extending along the lower horizontal edge of the face wall,said panels being assembled with their adjacent horizontal and Verticalportions forming horizontal .and cvertical, ;open

'8 seams therebetweensea *xertical drain ch nnel in back=or-zeachvertical seamand the corresponding-panel :flange .V-portions,each vertical channel includinga web spaced from the inner edges oi the,fiangesportions and outwardly bent flan e spaced from.,thezpanel,flangeportions; andan upwardly bent web portion extending alon the inner. edgeofceach inwardly bent panel shoulder ,portionland extending in back ofthe inwardly bent lower edge portion of the adjacent ,upper panel anddefining a velocity reducing drain channel communicating with thecorresponding horizontal seam and communicating withrthe vertical drainchannel.

9. A panelesupporting member defining a .U- shaped channel'andcomprising a web; outwardly extending flanges extending .along oppositeside edges .ofsaid web; a notch with an open front side in each flange.for receiving aportion of each supported panel; and a verticalflangeportion bent inwardly toward the opposite flange at the back of eachnotch, said flange portions being in.- wardlybent segments of thecorresponding flange extending along said web and each of said flangeportions being bent slightly outwardly away from the web so that theinner free edge of each in,- wardly bent flange portion iSin front oftheback of the corresponding notch.

10. A wall comprising a plurality of panels .asseinbled with adjacenthorizontal and vertical edges of their walls forming horizontally andvertically aligned non-watertight seams; .a plurality of horizontallyspaced vertical members supporting said panels, each member deflningavertical drain channel in back of the corresponding verticallyalignedseam and each member including a web, an outwardly extending flangealong each edge of said web, a notch in each flange for each supportedpanel, a horizontally inwardly bent tab at the bottom or each notch, aninwardly bent vertical flange portion at the back of .each notch and asecond inwardly .bent upper tab; an inwardly bent flange extending alongeach of the two opposite endedges of each panel iacewall and extendinginto the channel defined by the corresponding vertical member; adepressed channel shaped portion extending along the upper edge ofeachof said panel walls and fitting into the corresponding two notchesin the flanges, eachchannel shaped portion including an inwardly bentbottom shoulder en.- gaging two of the corresponding, inwardly bent tabsat the bottom of the notches, a web parallel to the front wall andcontacting two, corresponding, inwardly bent flange portions, andanupper flange extending along the upper edge of said last mentionedweb;and means extending along said channel shaped portion secured thereinthe lower edge of an adjacent upper panel; and resilient clips forfastening the channel shaped portion in the corresponding pair ofnotches, each of said clips comprising a portionextending across the'topof the flange at the upper edge of said last-mentioned web and acrossthe top -of the inwardly bent flange portion at the back of the notch,and two compressed spring leg portions extending from said straightportion-and engaging the'panel :at their outer ends so as to urge thelatter toward the central plane of the corresponding vertical drainchannel, said spring clip permitting limited floating movement of thepanel wall relative to thesupporting member and being held in place bythe second inwardly bent upper tab adjacent to each notch.

:11. ,A wall comprising a plurality. of panels ,as-

sembled with their adjacent edges forming horizontally and verticallyaligned non-watertight seams therebetween; a plurality of verticalmembers supporting said panels and each member defining a vertical drainchannel in back of the corresponding vertically aligned seams; achannel-shaped element carried by and extending along the upper edge ofeach panel and defining a horizontal channel in back of and above thecorresponding horizontal seams; means attaching said panels together;and means fastening the panels to the corresponding vertical members.

12. A wall comprising a plurality of vertical supporting members, eachsupporting member having a web and side flanges, a plurality of panelscarried by said supporting members, neighboring edge portions ofsaidpanels being in close juxtaposition to provide non-watertight verticalseams, and non-watertight seams angled with respect to the vertical,said seams being free of caulking material, a channel-shaped member. inback of each of said angled seams, said channel-shaped and saidsupporting members extending toward and terminating in proximity to theinner surface of the panels for forming therewith channels behind saidseams, the side flanges of each vertical supporting memberbeing spacedfrom its associated seam, the open area of said channels being large ascompared with that of said seams, whereby water driven into saidchannels through said seams has its velocity material- 1y reduced uponentering the channels and is then drained away.

13. A wall comprising a plurality of panels assembled with theiradjacent vertical edges forming non-watertight, vertical seamstherebetween and with their adjacent horizontal edges formingnon-watertight horizontal seams therebetween, a plurality of verticalsupporting members supporting the panels, each member defining avertical drain channel in back of respective vertical seams, there beinga vertical drain channel in back of each vertical seam, means fasteningthe panel to the vertical supporting members, and a rearwardly depressedchannel-shaped element integrally joined to and extending along theupper edge of each panel, each channel-shaped element defining ahorizontal drain channel in back of the horizontal seam at the upperedge of the respective panel, the horizontal drain channel extendingupwardly above the corresponding horizontal seam and each horizontalchannel communicating with a vertical drain channel.

CYRIL R. B. HARDING.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,594,614 Haines Aug. 3, 19261,874,790 Mortenson Aug. 30, 1932 2,128,976 Voegeli Sept. 6, 19382,190,818 Wysong Feb. 20, 1940 Certificate of Correction Patent No.2,530,465 November 21, 1950 CYRIL R. B. HARDING It is hereby certifiedthat error appears in the printed specification of the above numberedpatent requiring correction as follows:

Column 7, line 46, for upwardly read inwardly; line 75, before the Wordportions insert edge;

and that the said Letters Patent should be read as corrected above, sothat the same may conform to the record of the case in the PatentOfiice.

Signed and sealed this 15th day of May, A. D. 1951.

THOMAS F. MURPHY,

Assistant Commissioner of Patents.

